Blue skies, sunshine and a tangible air of anticipation marked the start of the fifth and final round of the 2023 LG Challenge as our 10 contestants arrived in Wigan.

Launching the challenge at Wigan town hall, Sonia Halliwell, director of customer and Paul Barton, director of environment, took the teams on a metaphorical journey through Wigan including ‘The Deal' – the innovative agreement the council has entered into with its residents.

The latest phase of Wigan's development – the ‘New Era' – provided the backdrop to the fifth challenge. Both teams were invited to consider the question: ‘What types of urban green infrastructure could be adopted across Wigan town centre to bring communities and people together and support the regeneration of our local economy?'

Team Thrive, captained by Hani Milburn-Cox were asked to focus on ‘health and accessibility to nature' and Team Catalyst, Captained by Zoe Galvin, ‘climate adaptation'.

Melanie Lamb, service manager for regeneration, filled in the detail of Wigan's impressive town centre regeneration plans and then invited both teams on a tour of the town's historical architecture, its pockets of green space and the current development sites.

Back at base the teams talked to key stakeholders and began researching international best practice. An early working dinner with senior officers and politicians provided an opportunity to glean further information and test out ideas before retiring for a long night working up concepts and proposals (and a nocturnal site visit).

Day two kicked off with a chance for the teams to discuss their ideas with local experts before finalising their reports and their presentations.

In Wigan's council chambers Sonia Halliwell and Paul Barton were joined by deputy leader Cllr Keith Cunliffe and head judge Claire Holloway from the Local Government Association (LGA) to receive the teams' presentations. Team Thrive's proposition Explore Wigan: A Journey of Nature, Heart and Soul sought to establish a number of accessible and interactive green infrastructure interventions to connect residents to the town centre. Ideas included the introduction of community greening initiatives and outdoor gyms, a new Wigan Water Bus to exploit the potential of the canals, a cycle hire scheme and series of interactive digital games that lead residents and visitors through a unique journey across Wigan town centre.

Team Catalyst's pitch A New Green Deal for Wigan's Town Centre: Rooted in the Past, Growing for the Future built on the Wigan Deal with three interconnected commitments. To develop green urban space and places, such as a network of parklets developed with communities; to create greenway connections that are accessible by foot, bike or bus that will guide people around the town centre and out to other attractions across the borough; and to facilitate the development of a range of green skills through a retrofit academy and community activities such as community gardens.

Both teams were highly commended for their well thought out and innovative proposals, but after tense deliberations Team Catalyst were announced as the winners of the final challenge of 2023.

But this was the fifth and final challenge and one big announcement remained – which four candidates would be on their way to the final at the LGA Conference to compete for the Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship?

The organisers crunched the numbers and Claire Holloway revealed the four finalists; Sydney Alexander (Islington LBC), Joe Kinsella (Calderdale MBC), Lewis Sheldrake (Barking & Dagenham LBC) and Hannah Futter (Waltham Forest LBC). Congratulations to you all – and see you in Bournemouth.

The LGA would like to thank Wigan Council for hosting a fantastic challenge. Special thanks go to Helen Baggaley, Michelle Green, Abbey Bingham and many others for the warm Wigan welcome.

And finally thanks to all our 10 contestants – you have all been on a tremendous journey (which for some began back in January 2020) and you are all winners.

As Cllr Keith Cunliffe, deputy leader, noted: ‘The future of local government is safe in these people's hands.'

Rachel Robinson is adviser, local government support (North West) at the LGA

@LGChallenge